diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f76fd34..9194e76 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ After installing etherpump on the Varia server, we collectively decided to not w
 
 Added the `--magicwords` flag. Parsing and indexing of magic words is now supported. See [etherpump.vvvvvvaria.org](https://etherpump.vvvvvvaria.org) for more.
 
+Change `--connection` default setting to 50 to avoid overpowering modestly powered servers.
+
 **November 2020**
 
 Releasing Etherpump 0.0.18!
diff --git a/etherpump/commands/pull.py b/etherpump/commands/pull.py
index 4377423..141af1c 100644
--- a/etherpump/commands/pull.py
+++ b/etherpump/commands/pull.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def build_argument_parser(args):
     )
     parser.add_argument(
         "--connection",
-        default=200,
+        default=50,
         type=int,
         help="number of connections to run concurrently",
     )